Headed to RI tonight. Didn't see fog on the forecast. Ill look harder next time. Visibility since 10pm has been about 5 yards. After being soaked and cold and realizing the fog wasn't breaking, we called the coasty guard who kindly came and found us and are currently escorting us to ft. Adams which is quite a distance from where our truck is parked

Oh well, we are alive

And we have a livewell full of bass. Nailed 5 keepers tonight with the biggest only being 18lbs but man oh man feels good to get the monkey off my back...back on pace of last years count.

Bass porn to come when I gwt home

Big Kudo's to the castle hill coast guard who we are still currently following

No GPS aboard..?

how much did they charge ya ?


our tax dollars at work rescuing the happy's

how much did they charge ya ?


our tax dollars at work rescuing the happy's


and so let me toss you a single finger salute for your personal tax contribution then.

we called the coast guard after waiting 4 hours.... asked for a reccomendation, they told us they were coming to get us.

even when the fog DID seem to clear out in the open, they still told us to follow them.

we knew exactly where we were at all times.... we knew exactly where to go to get back... it was more a concern of not getting run down by the larger ships that were going back and forth well into the night crossing the bay.

but to answer that.. no charge for the escort... $34 to take a cab to the truck.

http://www.eatthekitty.com/2005Keeper_1.jpg

shove you're effort at a middle finger in your brain and check around to feel if there is any matter left there.

I don't believe I deserve a weak effort at a curse from someone who should be embarrassed about what happened and actually try and learn something from it.
I am happy you caught fish but appalled that you weren't prepared to be out.

Ships are one of Darwins way of culling the herd. You look as though you fit right in with the herd, too. :laugha: :laugha:

Youch! :rolleyes:

why should i be embarassed as to what happened?

i guess i am missing that...

things happen
emergency services are there for a reason..

i used them... my tax dollars too... you pay for a service even indirectly.. you use it... we could of EASILY stayed the night.. and except for being cold and wet, anchored where we sat we were never in danger.

the one mistake made was that we didnt realize the fog was going to be as bad as it was... oh well, sheeot happens, so we reacted accordingly.

not using our brains would of been attempting to cross the bay on our own and ending up a statistic when they found the boat in the morning.

we were not the only boats out there, just the only one from what we saw to attempt to better our situation.

so I dont think we deserve your weak effort at an insult in your original post either....

my response comes from the fact that it HAS BEEN FOGGY FOR EVERY NIGHT FOR THE PAST WEEK EXCEPT ONE.

sorry to be such a poopie pants but out in the cape and islands we see this shiite all the time. plain sick of it basically. it's a wonder more people don't come home.

The coast guard is a lot like the fire department. Just because they are there doesn't mean we can use them anytime we feel like it. But that's just my opinion.

you had fun fishing, got lost in the fog and needed help getting home.

Get a chart, VHF, running lights, a fog horn and maybe a GPS (if you can handle it) and learn something please....

best of luck in all your future boating experiences.

out

I dont want to sound like an A-Hole commercial guy, but I have to take BW's side on this... watch the forecast carefully, plan accordingly and if weather deteriorates get Home....

Shiite does happen out there, and thats what the CG's are there for in the extreme. My bigger problem is that they actually came and got you; that ventures a guess that either
A. you were anchored in a navigation channel or traffic sep. scheme areas, or
B. they were feeling charitable (usually would tell you to call a commercial salver)

My problem is more in venturing out in an ill equiped boat and running into problems, which may or may not have been you guys... I run a variety of boats, mainly a 60ft commercial pax. vessel, along with a small r/v and several small fishing boats. My personal boat is a 13ft whaler, and I would never leave the dock w/o a compass, flares, fog horn, vhf and cell phone. On nights with Fog in the forescast I wont even leave my side of the bay, at worst I can pick my way along the shore and get home.

I spend weekends listening on the radio to people F'ing up and then expecting to get bailed out. The CG's rarly come out unless it is life threatening, otherwise the call a comm. salver (seatow etc) or the HM's. This incluedes the twice a year warriors in boats that break down, run out of fuel etc.. or the people who get lost in the fog, or run into the fish traps, or the people who run outside the bay then want to go home to warwick and oops it came up NW 20knots, etc. etc. etc..

The bottom line;
1. My Shiite stinks to, stuff happens, the best you can do is be prepared and plan more carefully
2. Dont be a statistic, but dont sit on your tail and hope to be bailed out you are really lucky the CG's didnt leave you to a commercial salver or to wait it out.
3. If you knew where you were at all times then with a chart, compass, depth sounder, fog horn, the proper running lights and a vhf (to monitor commercial traffic) you could have gotten home. Just go slow and steady and use your head out there.
4. This isnt meant to flame you BJS, I just spend too many days working hearing BS on the water.... including the guy complaining on Sun of a car ship disrupting his sail race... he misquoted the rules of the road and issued a 'warning' to watch out for the really big boat coming down the bay.. sorry but BW's right again, if you cant see a Friggin Carship coming down the bay on a clear day and plan a corrdingly, you deserve to get hit...

Besides I cant agree with BW too much; he's a yuppie from an island :D :D :D

Glad everyone is safely home .

At some point you must have felt unsafe or you wouldn't have called them. Not a good situation to put yourself and your guests into.

I've seen some really risky stuff out there. I once came upon a guy and two women , probably all late 40's to early 50's in age , on a sunfish in the middle of long Island sound between Guilford and Matituck(from this area its about 10 miles either way to CT or NY) in the ofg. They had a little 1 horse outboard and had run out of gas. I offered a tow , they said no. I offered to bring his passengers in for him and he could follow me. he said no. He just wanted gas. He seemed really annoyed that I persisted in recommending he take my help. I gave him gas but will never forget what a stupid bastard he was refusing the help. I never heard anything on the news so i assume he made it home.

Another time I was anchored in the Salt Pond at Block Island when I heard a May Day call. That's getting serious. I looked up the coordinates and couldn't figure out what was wrong cause apparently this guy was right next to me in the pond calling a May day. Next thing you know the anchorage area I was in is swarming with coast guard and Harbor master boats. The guy was at anchor in the poind and called a May Day (yep , a full blown May day) because his anchor started dragging!!! They read him the riot act!!! :)

Anyway I never called the Coast Guard or a Sea Tow in the 23 years I had the boat but if you feel a need , make the call , don't take chances if you are uncomfortable out there. I'd sooner face 12 foot seas than dense fog (faced both many times) so if you were uncomfortable , it was a good idea to call. Getting people home safely is more important than anything else. You may want to follow up with other experienced boaters or the Power squadron or even the Coast guard and see what you can learn to avoid the situation next time.

It must of been the charitable case then

Because I called and spoke to them on and off over 3 hours.. There were more pressing matters out there...

I expressed that we were not in danger, we were just anchored right off an island and looking to get out.. Never once did they mention a commercial tow..


The one thing the owner of the boat DIDNT have and I thought he did was the VHF... Everything else other than a GPS was accounted for.... We did have a working compass and knew the route back to the dock... The owner just didnt want to chance it.

It must of been the charitable case then

Because I called and spoke to them on and off over 3 hours.. There were more pressing matters out there...

I expressed that we were not in danger, we were just anchored right off an island and looking to get out.. Never once did they mention a commercial tow..


The one thing the owner of the boat DIDNT have and I thought he did was the VHF... Everything else other than a GPS was accounted for.... We did have a working compass and knew the route back to the dock... The owner just didnt want to chance it.


It would probably be in your best interest to buy him or yourself a handheld GPS and learn how to use it!! Way too many things can go wrong out there your not playing with a full deck if you don't take advantage of every available aide to your safety. I will bet you the capt couldn't get back with just the compass either, how many charts of the area were on the boat? Personnaly I have ventured out in dense fog, however I have survival suits, EPIRB,radar, GPS chartplotter, ship to shore radio and a backup handheld
It's all about fun, relaxation and enjoyment and you can't get any of those when you put your self in that predicament, a 36" fish is not worth a life, BE SAFE!!

I don't want it to seem like I'm piling on, but that Captain had no business being out there in that situation. If I were you I'd be pissed at him for putting my life in danger!

I don't want it to seem like I'm piling on, but that Captain had no business being out there in that situation. If I were you I'd be pissed at him for putting my life in danger!


my thoughts as well.

Glad everyone is safely home .

At some point you must have felt unsafe or you wouldn't have called them. Not a good situation to put yourself and your guests into.

I've seen some really risky stuff out there. I once came upon a guy and two women , probably all late 40's to early 50's in age , on a sunfish in the middle of long Island sound between Guilford and Matituck(from this area its about 10 miles either way to CT or NY) in the ofg. They had a little 1 horse outboard and had run out of gas. I offered a tow , they said no. I offered to bring his passengers in for him and he could follow me. he said no. He just wanted gas. He seemed really annoyed that I persisted in recommending he take my help. I gave him gas but will never forget what a stupid bastard he was refusing the help. I never heard anything on the news so i assume he made it home.

Another time I was anchored in the Salt Pond at Block Island when I heard a May Day call. That's getting serious. I looked up the coordinates and couldn't figure out what was wrong cause apparently this guy was right next to me in the pond calling a May day. Next thing you know the anchorage area I was in is swarming with coast guard and Harbor master boats. The guy was at anchor in the poind and called a May Day (yep , a full blown May day) because his anchor started dragging!!! They read him the riot act!!! :)

Anyway I never called the Coast Guard or a Sea Tow in the 23 years I had the boat but if you feel a need , make the call , don't take chances if you are uncomfortable out there. I'd sooner face 12 foot seas than dense fog (faced both many times) so if you were uncomfortable , it was a good idea to call. Getting people home safely is more important than anything else. You may want to follow up with other experienced boaters or the Power squadron or even the Coast guard and see what you can learn to avoid the situation next time.

I agree with you Saltheart and I am sorry I was such an a$$

Saltheart you are a good moderator (and person). Always a very tactful way of explaining things. I lack it and have and will learn to be a little more patient.
At least I'll try. ;)
but in reality, some people just don't get.
BJS, if the owner didn't have a VHF and you thought he did, then I apologize for my harsh critique. I would have read him the riot act once I understood that. I am an a$$hole you see...

Rock I ain't no yuppie. :faga: :hee: :hee:

and on the flipside of what BW said...

yes I have spent a hell of alot more time on boats recently, but I still dont own one and only know so much...

so yes.. lots to learn.. and consider.

Whether he had a gps, or not he should still be able to navigate with a compass. The danger lies in the fact that with out a radar, you won't see other vessels until it is too late.

The one thing the owner of the boat DIDNT have and I thought he did was the VHF... Everything else other than a GPS was accounted for.... We did have a working compass and knew the route back to the dock... The owner just didnt want to chance it.

It's likely that a boater without rudimentary items like a VHF has not had his compass swung, rendering it all but useless in zero vis. (not to mention the effect of current and wind on boat direction and orientation)

BJS, you get a pass because you are not the boater and have no need to be familiar with what a responsible boater should know or have on board. It sounds like you did the right thing in calling the coasties. Your well being was likely in danger, even if you do not realize it.

The owner however does not get the same pass. If he can't navigate in zero vis, he should not be out in the dark. He needs to start by taking a boating course.

BTW, you think the guys here are tough? Can you imagine how much the coasties are laughing at you along with their friends? They've got their own term for you folks that's not approriate for polite company.

BW; I know you aint know yuppie... it's just so tempting cause you live on the island, my offer still stands anytime your on the rhody mainland......

BJS sorry for my rant I had just worked the weekend in Newport and was frustrated with the morons out there, it wasnt your boat so I agree your buddy needs lessons, you're cool :D

Even if you dont own a boat, if you dont know a ton, take a boating class even without a boat, it will help in the long run if you get into a similar situation.....

Bryan

My problem is more in venturing out in an ill equiped boat and running into problems, which may or may not have been you guys... I run a variety of boats, mainly a 60ft commercial pax. vessel, along with a small r/v and several small fishing boats. My personal boat is a 13ft whaler, and I would never leave the dock w/o a compass, flares, fog horn, vhf and cell phone. On nights with Fog in the forescast I wont even leave my side of the bay, at worst I can pick my way along the shore and get home.

My tactics EXACTLY....and I run a 19' Whaler. If I call the CG ONCE in my lifetime for help, it will be 1 time too many, as far as I am concerned.

Even if you dont own a boat, if you dont know a ton, take a boating class even without a boat, it will help in the long run if you get into a similar situation.....

Bryan


not a bad idea..

can anyone reccomend anywhere to look into in the southeastern MA area?

Power Squadron has a course at Bristol/Plymouth Tech. High school in taunton. You missed the spring course but I believe they may have another. Coast Gaurd courses are available also but I don't know where or when.

BP does?

ill check it out... havent been there since graduation.

any info on courses would be appreciated

I grew up on boats, but that was in a lake. Hope to be buying a boat by late fall or over the winter, and want some classes before I launch into the big water

-IWK

http://www.tauntonriverpowersquadron.org/course_schedule.htm

doesnt look like anything is coming for the power squadron one.. but there is a couple email links.. I am gonna see what I can find out

I found classes from Power Squandron's main page and other classes available through the Coast Guard - specifically under the auxillary Coast Guard pull down menu.

Try www.boatwise.com

I second Boatwise.....great outfit. You can learn LOTS. WELL worth it.

Welcome to the club bjs, most everyone who's spent time on the water has done stupid things and lived to tell the tale another day.
live and learn.

A lot has been said on this already but what happened, happened and IMO even zero visibility fog is not an emergency situation. Dense fog is pretty normal on the water actually. I would only request assistance from the CG directly if there were a life in real danger. (i.e., boat sinking, fire, serious medical matter that required a helo, boat collision, found a dead guy, etc) or of course for an oil spill or Nav aid problem. Fog is just weather related. That said, I see the CG still doing lots of rec "rescues" that a comm. towboat should do, sometimes I think they do it for exercise or to practice running the boat with a new crew. I don't think it is wrong to speak to them and ask for advice...If you don't know what to do and need to call them do it. Better to ask and get solid advice then do something really stupid that then requires them to assist. If they choose to come get you over a tow service...fine, it’s their call. In that regard I think you did the smart thing. Hopefully you will purchase a tow service package now and deal with them. The CG is not required to come and get you in the fog, (they might have told you this) they can if they want to but most of the time they will hook you up with a tow service. (Without a prior contract look to pay a very hefty tow bill from these services.) The CG is only required to assist when life is in danger.

As for boating courses I agree with others and ***highly*** recommend them. I enjoy taking boating courses and have taken several from different schools and boating org's. There are a number of very good courses and a few weaker ones. Get a couple rec's before signing up. It is a great thing to do in the winter, you will learn A LOT and feel a lot better about being on the water in the fog or heavy weather...and know what to do and when to do it. Even if you don't file for your official Capt.’s lic, the course materials and knowledge (and new friends you will meet) will last you a lifetime. It’s pretty fun talking about boating stuff learning new things about boating and hearing a few good "sea story's" in the dead of winter too. (At least for me it is)

If you had a GPS plotter, compass and horn on board you could have easily made it thru any fog...plot your course, follow your heading, ***go slow*** watching the gps and compass while listening for horns (and use yours as required). The big guys generally see you and have a horn so loud they can nearly blast you out of their way. You will know where they are. I have seen the MV ferry stop in the middle of the sound and whale on his horn because of a few small boats floundering around in front of him. They move and he proceeds slowly. What you really need to be aware of are tugboats with a tow...a good rule is to always give these guys a real wide berth even on a clear night.


Anyway, glad you made it back safely.

Your right about one thing though...the CG is great and I for one am glad this gov't **finally** is giving them the resources they need. The Clinton years were the dark ages for the CG. Is there anything more depressing then a mothballed abandoned CG station or a worn out cg boat in need of replacement? GO CG!

BJS.......

Have your captain try these boating test.

http://www.usps.org/cgi-bin-nsbt/index.cgi

Going out on the ocean without a weather radio and GPS is crazy especially how cheap you can buy them now. catching fish isn't worth risking my life or the life of my friends.